Massive player exodus hits Triangle

CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League side Triangle management has come under criticism from the team’s fans as a massive player exodus ensues under their watch.

BY KENNETH NYANGANI

The Sugar Sugar Boys have lost defender Jimmy Tigere to Harare City, striker Hillary Bakacheza to FC Platinum, goalkeeper Ashley Reyners and Tichaona Chipunza to Dynamos as well as Cabby Kamhapa to Caps United.

It is understood midfielder Pascal Manhanga, Zambian striker Antony Sakala and Praise Tonha will be joining Kelvin Kaindu at How Mine.

Former Dynamos coach David Mandigora

Jimmy Dzingai is training with Dynamos and the club is reportedly reluctant to renew contracts of other top players that include former skipper Chastern Ndongonda, defender Dzingai, William Mapfumo, Peter Muzondo and former Highlanders star Dumisani Ndlovu.

The Lovemore Matikinyidze-led administration has been dragging its feet in offering new deals to out-of-contract players which has seen some of them left stranded in the Lowveld.

The 2015 class which finished in fourth position has been decimated and the new coach, who is likely to be David Mandigora, will have to build from scratch.

Triangle chairperson Matikinyidze said the club could do little to avert the mass walkout as the players had their contracts expiring at December 31 with most of them choosing to move on.

“This is not the first time I have heard that our top players are leaving the club, we never lost any player, but their contracts had expired, they decided to move and we could not stand in their way,’’ he said.

“We don’t want to stand in the players’ way if they believe that they can move. Last season we ended on position four and we will continue to work hard with the remaining players. By the end of next week we are going finalise on our technical team set-up and squad,’’ he said.

Some of the team’s supporters have registered discontent at the the club management’s lackadaisical approach in tying down players ahead of the new season.

Some of the players that have remained at the club that Mandigora can build around include goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu, Courage Denias, Malvern Gaki and exciting midfielder Lameck Nhamo.